The sequel to 2002’s Lost Tapes is ready to be released, and Def Jam is apparently willing to put it out, but they’re supposedly saying that it won’t count on his deal and that they won’t give him any money, although in the e-mail below addressed to Def Jam’s top execs from Nas, they seemed to have offered him $200k for it. They also allegedly still want all of the benefits that come from releasing a Nas album.

With all do respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY’s slave. This is not the 1800’s, respect me and I will respect you.

I won’t even tap dance around in an email, I will get right into it. People connect to the Artist @ the end of the day, they don’t connect with the executives. Honestly, nobody even cares what label puts out a great record, they care about who recorded it. Yet time and time again its the executives who always stand in the way of a creative artist’s dream and aspirations. You don’t help draw the truth from my deepest and most inner soul, you don’t even do a great job @ selling it. The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job. To the consumer, I COME FIRST. Stop trying to deprive them! I have a fan base that dies for my music and a RAP label that doesn’t understand RAP. Pretty fucked up situation

This isn’t the 90’s though. Beefing with record labels is so 15 years ago. @ this point I just need you all to be very clear where I stand and how I feel about “my label.” I could go on twitter or hot 97 tomorrow and get 100,000 protesters @ your building but I choose to walk my own path my own way because since day one I have been my own man. I did business with Tommy Mottola and Donnie Einer, two of the most psycho dudes this business ever created. I worked well with them for one major reason……. they believed in me. The didn’t give a fuck about what any radio station or magazine said….those dudes had me.

Lost Tapes is a movement and a very important set up piece for my career as it stands. I started this over 5 years ago @ Columbia and nobody knew what it was or what it did but the label put it out as an LP and the fans went crazy for it and I single handlely built a new brand of rap albums. It’s smart and after 5 years it’s still a head of the game. This feels great and you not feeling what I’m feeling is disturbing. Don’t get in the way of my creativity. We are aligned with the stars here, this is a movement. There is a thing called KARMA that comes to haunt you when you tamper with the aligning stars. WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog shit on a MAGICAL moment.

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bullshit $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have shit coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy. Let’s get money!

I guess getting 100,000 of his fans to start a protest in front of the Def Jam offices is something he refuses to do, but letting an e-mail like this get out and brewing up an internet shitstorm is alright.

Either way, if Nas’ following is as strong as he says it is, and why wouldn’t it be, Def Jam’s reluctance to change his contract restrictions or pay him for unreleased songs shouldn’t be enough to stop him. Think about it, there should be other ways around this if they’re not counting it as a contractual obligation or trying to claim these songs that Nas might have recorded outside of his Def Jam days.

Then again, if there had been another way, we might not have even known about the issue.

Update: The letter has been confirmed by a legitimate source close to Nas. It’s true folks.

Posted by Nation
on Thursday, October 7th, 2010 at 2:17 am
under:News, Rumors

192 Responses to “The reason why Lost Tapes 2 isn’t coming out”

” The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job. ”

This is do damn accurate it hurts to read it.

” This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. ”

There is a thing called KARMA that comes to haunt you when you tamper with the aligning stars. WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog shit on a MAGICAL moment.

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bullshit $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have shit coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy. Let’s get money!
^^^^^^^
*standing ovation*

I guess getting 100,000 of his fans to start a protest in front of the Def Jam offices is something he refuses to do, but letting an e-mail like this get out and brewing up an internet shitstorm is alright.

But regarding the album.
I always felt The Lost Tapes was so good, because it was exactly the songs that Nas DIDN’T want to put out, and to me it really cemented my oppinion that he can’t pick beats to save his life.

So the regular releases are shit, while the unreleased stuff was hot.

Now here comes #2, that supposed to cash in on the succes of the first.
But this one is put out (or not) fully aware – there are no leaked songs left off recent albums, which fans are crying for.

So what kind of songs is on #2?
Can Nas really knowingly construct an album with no sucky Salaam Remi beats?

But regarding the album.
I always felt The Lost Tapes was so good, because it was exactly the songs that Nas DIDN’T want to put out, and to me it really cemented my oppinion that he can’t pick beats to save his life.

So the regular releases are shit, while the unreleased stuff was hot.

Now here comes #2, that supposed to cash in on the succes of the first.
But this one is put out (or not) fully aware – there are no leaked songs left off recent albums, which fans are crying for.

So what kind of songs is on #2?
Can Nas really knowingly construct an album with no sucky Salaam Remi beats?
——————————————————————————–

Lost Tapes 1 had records that everyone had heard of or leaked before too though. In fact, other than Purple every record on that album had been heard on mixtapes, leaked mp3s on audiogalaxy or napster or B-sides to Nas’s singles.

So even if Lost Tapes 2 has records that we already have heard, it doesnt matter its an album to compile the best stuff. Its sort of a way of Nas making his street album the way he would have.
There’s also opportunity to hear records that havent been completed or talked about (He may release the Scientist or Colours. Pete Rock already said the record he worked with Nas in 2009 will be on there). So there’s stuff on the album.

I got no problem with that album having “sucky” Salaam Remi beats because truth be told, he aint the one giving him the wack beats. Its usually Stargate or Chucky Thompson.

People need to stop blaming Salaam for the wack beats, he gives him heat (Theifs Theme, Legendary, Made You Look, Streets Disciple). Its usually other dudes. In fact sometimes its from guys who we think are gonna give him heat (Q-Tip gave him American Way off Streets Disciple and Buckwild gave him These are Our Heroes and every Nas fan I know hated that)

People gotta check the credits on the songs….course that would mean buying the album to look at the notes lol

“The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job.”

“I could go on twitter or hot 97 tomorrow and get 100,000 protesters @ your building but I choose to walk my own path my own way because since day one I have been my own man.”

always hear this, yet “smart” rappers like Nas or Lupe sign the major contracts anyway and then start crying foul later and act “surprised”. No sympathy for these dudes at all.
———–

Nas rarely cries foul, and hes been on major labels for 17 years and had some BS to deal with (re-recording, small budgets, material getting left off albums).
To me this is second major gripe hes had. I think he gets the industry but Def Jam wants to release the album, take whatever profits they can as a distributor but not give him share because its a not a new album of recorded material.

Nooooo, Nasir what are you doing?! To Start that shitstorm instead of putting it out via E1 after feeding Def Jam with a Best Of LP to get out of the contract…
You won’t get Hhid Budget anymore. Now they will Play you bad cause they have more pull.
Don’t forget that you are their employee…

Forgot about that Columbia 2k7 Best of, my Bad sorry!
At E1 he’ll get the bigger cut-off of the sales.
Plus Why is He complaining about the Executives being greedy and at the Same Time beggin for 200K+ for old material?

October 7th, 2010 at 5:08 am
P.S. – Nas must pocket most of those album budgets anyway cause it doesn’t really show in his production. He’s not buying beats from Timbaland or Pharrell, so where did the money go?

I mean, how much money do you spend on an album that you don’t expect to sell units?
^^^^^^^^
Even without a radio and video airplay, you still gotta do print and online advertising for it. $200k barelys covers that if at all. Depends on cost of ad space and the area/magazine/website that you put the ad on

200k? Does that include clearing samples and paying the producers? Doesn’t sound like enough.
==========================
It’s more then enough considering how hard this album will struggle to break even.

200k? Does that include clearing samples and paying the producers? Doesn’t sound like enough.
==========================
It’s more then enough considering how hard this album will struggle to break even.

^It’s not enough if they end up having to pull a Just Blaze or Rza beat off the album due to budget constraints. That would suck. I just want it to be released the way it’s supposed to. And I think you’re underestimating how many people are looking forward to Lost Tapes 2.

And I think you’re underestimating how many people are looking forward to Lost Tapes 2.
======================================
Nah. I think you’re overestimating the amount of people who are gonna run out & buy it.

Lets say the record company makes 3.00 a album (the record is only 8.99 at best buy

so you have 3.00 * 75k = 225k

so for an album that had nas and a reggae star (rmbr some of his fans bought that album also) the company did not make more than 25k

Now, for this album of old shit that nas has in his closet they are willing to give him 200k, for old songs that are ALREADY DONE AND MASTERED AKA THROW AWAY Songs

and he want to claim he is not slave, smh

If you have any business sense you will see as a business you would be crazy to give this nigga anything more. And for the die hard nas fans,if nas really :cared” about you he would just drop the music every friday for free, see kanye west….

Assuming this is a truthful communication from Knoz to label and that accusations contained therein are factual; I can only think that the label considers LT2 to be mixtape status, not LP status. Anyone else concur?

Nas needs to just make a new album
============================
Basically. And keep the Lost Tapes shit for when he finally gets out of his Def Jam contract. E1 will pay good money for those records and there will be way less red tape hassles.

To be honest, Nas is doing it wrong…
Nobody wants the lost tapes 2…
stop being lazy and record a real album…
record a classic…THATS what the fans want.
release those unreleased tracks for FREE online…(if u really care about your fans)

Nas is sounding like he doesn’t give a shit about the fans, and he just wants to make as much money as he can whilst he can…

SMH @ The email. I appreciate Nas taking the higher ground, but the game ain’t been the same since rappers stopped beating execs up. Someone needs to go ‘Keith Murray’ in Def Jam’s offices again and maybe then they’ll stop fucking about.

The albums debuted at number 1 and went gold. Not that I care about sales, but what more do you want?
======================================
I liked both albums but they only succeeded in keeping Nas relevant. He didn’t make any fans with those two albums.

“the game ain’t been the same since rappers stopped beating execs up.”

This is true tho.

^^

Back when execs looked at every rapper like mystical Baron Samedi type niggas and they didn’t know which ones would have them clapped during a family barbecue, it was gravy. Now they’re like ‘Fuck that guy – he talks shit to me, I’ll put him in a Wendy’s commercial dressed as a minstrel’.

As ignorant as it sounds – someone needs to get whooped – A real life support, candlelight vigil whooping. One of these random goons running behind around rappers should be able to handle that, surely…

The albums debuted at number 1 and went gold. Not that I care about sales, but what more do you want?
======================================
I liked both albums but they only succeeded in keeping Nas relevant. He didn’t make any fans with those two albums.

^#1 single doesn’t mean you have fans or that people will support your album though. B.O.B. had a number one single, but I doubt he has many fans.

Nas last 2 solo Lps were NUMBER 1 records.
=================================
But where are the hit singles?

There were none.

“the game ain’t been the same since rappers stopped beating execs up.”

This is true tho.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Fuck a hit single, the albums debuted number 1 and sold resonably well (HHID 800k almost plat, Untitled gold). For Nas to do those numbers in a post-2000s era when rappers of his kind struggle, thats nothing short a job well done. And thats why Def Jam was demanding a new studio album from him for this year.

You put out singles to push the album, if your album sells marginally well without singles (ie no cost for spins) thats fine.

Back when execs looked at every rapper like mystical Baron Samedi type niggas and they didn’t know which ones would have them clapped during a family barbecue, it was gravy. Now they’re like ‘Fuck that guy – he talks shit to me, I’ll put him in a Wendy’s commercial dressed as a minstrel’.

Believe it or not… this situation is only going to bring an even better Solo album from Nas… That’s the 1 nigga u don’t set off! Everybody is still gonna get the Lost Tapes 2… Wouldn’t be surprised if Nas gets a buyout on his DefJam deal, and goes elsewhere… This could be a blessing in disguise!

I hate to see one of my favorite artists go through this, especially at this stage of his career but he’s got no choce but to show & prove.

Get that niggardly Waka on the horn and make a banger that Def Jam can’t deny.

^^

After #Votinggood-gate Waka needs Nas more than Nas needs Waka. And look at the people he’s been working with recently. Carlos Santana and Gil Scott Heron. I can understand why he doesn’t really care for making ‘radio songs’ – he’s working with legends.

Fuck the entertainment industry corporatocracy. Nas should have created an independent situation a long time ago to release personal projects that wouldn’t make financial sense to a blood sucking entertainment corporation but would mean the world to hip hop. Ice Water is the perfect example, OB4CL2 had to be released independently. I’m convinced major corporate controlled record labels are done with hip hop. Even Jay saw this and left to get the money from Live nation to start his imprint. Hov was like fuck that. How is $200,000 not a insult?

Fuck a hit single, the albums debuted number 1 and sold resonably well (HHID 800k almost plat, Untitled gold). For Nas to do those numbers in a post-2000s era when rappers of his kind struggle, thats nothing short a job well done. And thats why Def Jam was demanding a new studio album from him for this year.
========================
I agree, but lets be real, hype sold those albums more then the actual music. I like both albums for what they are but I know execs are eying BDS and saying Nas needs a real hit.

Nas should have created an independent situation a long time ago to release personal projects that wouldn’t make financial sense to a blood sucking entertainment corporation but would mean the world to hip hop.
===========================================
Nas can’t even keep his women in line. Picture him setting up an indie.

^#1 single doesn’t mean you have fans or that people will support your album though. B.O.B. had a number one single, but I doubt he has many fans.

^^

*applauds hl*

Church!

Amp I can’t tell if your hating or what. WTF are you saying? Def Jam BEEN fucking up,at least fuck up with a legend,that’s all i’m saying. Nas has always recooped,if nothing else. This nigga got damn near 2o years in(20 GREAT years),when that stops counting for something we in trouble.

I can understand why he doesn’t really care for making ‘radio songs’ – he’s working with legends.
===============================
But honestly, the cats that buy Hip-Hop albums don’t care.

^^

And that’s a crying shame, because they’re missing out on some great music. It’s always been super weird to me – in hip-hop, we’ve got one of the most progressive forms of music ever made, yet some of the most close minded fans supporting it. Only hip-hop fans, for example, could be given two albums of Dilla produced Tribe joints (B,R & L and The Love Movement) and complain that they didn’t get Midnight Marauders twice over. Really?

The remix of New York Is Killing Me, is one of my favourite joints to come out this year. It’s like the anti-Empire State Of Mind.

“if execs are looking for a pop hit from Nas it will most likely be shitty and people will complain.”

Only if it’s forced. If Nas embraced the idea of trying to make something that will appeal to people outside his fanbase without making some epic reach (i.e Getting Lady Gaga on the hook), he could make something that hits radio but still has “a purp” (c) Yeezy

It cracks me up to see how people respond from the media…. Like most dudes on Hip Hop blogs actually know the details and in’s and out’s of the business! This is not that big of a deal… The album is coming out 1 way or another… Dude has been standing on his own 2 feet, by himself for almost 20 years… I’m pretty sure he know’s what he is doing… When that dope music drops… Niggas won’t be so concerned with shit they really don’t know anything about

Only hip-hop fans, for example, could be given two albums of Dilla produced Tribe joints (B,R & L and The Love Movement) and complain that they didn’t get Midnight Marauders twice over. Really?
===============================
The Love Movement is really bad though.

And radio doesn’t play Gil Scott-Heron. BET neither. And it’s not getting on in the clubs.

This is not that big of a deal… The album is coming out 1 way or another… Dude has been standing on his own 2 feet, by himself for almost 20 years… I’m pretty sure he know’s what he is doing… When that dope music drops… Niggas won’t be so concerned with shit they really don’t know anything about
===============================================
In case you missed it, all this commentary is due to the long ass letter this post is based on.

That’s why it’s a topic of discussion.

And this is Nah Right where people make both informed and uninformed comments about Hip-Hop.

In case you missed it, all this commentary is due to the long ass letter this post is based on.

That’s why it’s a topic of discussion.

And this is Nah Right where people make both informed and uninformed comments about Hip-Hop.

So why are you aggy?

^^^

In case u missed my point… go to the website that is linked with this story… IT DOESN”T EXIST!

Furthermore…. I’m not aggy at all…. as a matter of a fact, it was funny to me. I’ve been a Sound Engineer for over 10 years, where checks & exec’s come through all the time. The reason I said it was funny, was b/c the point of view that most people have on Hip Hop blogs about the business side of Hip Hop is completely inaccurate… A good parallel would be… A kid from the burbs has 2 cousins who live in the Bricks, see’s both of them at a family reunion, hangs out with them, leaves, go’s back home… and all of a sudden they are thugged out! It’s not reality pimpin

The reason I said it was funny, was b/c the point of view that most people have on Hip Hop blogs about the business side of Hip Hop is completely inaccurate…
=====================
So you being an “insider”, point out the inaccuracies of us ignorant blog folk.

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bullshit $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have shit coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy. Let’s get money!

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD!
=================================
It’s not an LP of original work. It’s comprised of old songs that he didn’t see fit to release back when they were created or when he put out the first Lost Tapes.

It’s not an LP of original work. It’s comprised of old songs that he didn’t see fit to release back when they were created or when he put out the first Lost Tapes.
^
I don’t know, the first one seemed to be quite crackish. Also, as far as I know compilation albums (best of albums) typically count towards a deal. And if he is this upset, I am assuming that the first Lost Tapes counted towards his deal as well.

October 7th, 2010 at 9:22 am
It cracks me up to see how people respond from the media…. Like most dudes on Hip Hop blogs actually know the details and in’s and out’s of the business! This is not that big of a deal… The album is coming out 1 way or another… Dude has been standing on his own 2 feet, by himself for almost 20 years… I’m pretty sure he know’s what he is doing… When that dope music drops… Niggas won’t be so concerned with shit they really don’t know anything about
^^^^^^CO-SIGN 1000%!

These dudes on these blogs think they know Nas and his life story…the man has been doing this for 20 years…there is nothing dumb about him. All the haters seem to say is Nas is brok, bringing up his ex ect. Nas shits all over their favorite rappers because he is the only artist that will not take shit and expresses himself. Nas’ A&R already posted on twitter Lost Tapes 2!!! and made his backgroung is the theme of Lost Tapes 1! nas is no punk and unlike tese gossiping ass fans he knows what he is doig!

So you being an “insider”, point out the inaccuracies of us ignorant blog folk.

What is it that we don’t understand exactly?

^^^

My friend…. there is NO proof this letter even exists! That’s the whole point… A letter gets posted with a link, and you go to source and it doesn’t even exist??… so now since the story is posted on here, everybody is talking up a storm about Nas and how he is fucked up in the game, and in need of money… Do u know the man personally?? Do any of us know him personally??… everything is off the strength of the media, what they say, what they publish…. Media = Lies …. I’m not here to belittle anybody bruh… I’m just saying… the media publishes things, and all of a sudden fans have judgements on these people, and we really don’t know if any of its true

Niggaz be sheep though, bunch of bitches feel they gotta say something, anything as soon as it gets quiet..the silence scares em.
===========================================
Not sure what this means, but if you were taking a shot @ me, I’d appreciate it if you said my name.

And if the letter is fiction, why is it still up?

Niggas getting tight at the response to a letter instead of questioning the blogger’s decision to post it?

Fuck a hit single, the albums debuted number 1 and sold resonably well (HHID 800k almost plat, Untitled gold). For Nas to do those numbers in a post-2000s era when rappers of his kind struggle, thats nothing short a job well done. And thats why Def Jam was demanding a new studio album from him for this year.
========================
I agree, but lets be real, hype sold those albums more then the actual music. I like both albums for what they are but I know execs are eying BDS and saying Nas needs a real hit.

Cause what’s he gonna name his next album?

“I Hate Whitey”?

That should go Gold easily.
________________________________________

This makes no sense. If those Sold who cares if it was hype or singles? In fact, the execs at Def Jam are probably greatful that the album pushed units without them having to spend money on spins.

If anything Def Jam is probably greatful he can push gold without a heavy rotation single. Thats probably a reason why they keep Ghostface and the Roots too. They can sell a decent amount without a great deal of money going into the budget.

The argument is this: Why not invest a little more money and be creative with the promotion? Ultimatley you still need that “Def Jam Push” but only Rhianna is the type of artist who gets a push after she does poor first week sales (Which has happened on 3 of her 5 albums). There is an audience for even people like Nas, Roots, Ghost. You just gotta find ways to get them buy the albums (Sell them on tour? Cause they all tour a lot)

But anyway, the issue with Nas releasing Lost Tapes 2 has more to do with the fact that Def Jam is gonna reap money on this as a distributor with little invesement in.

Perhaps they dont quite get the Nas brand. Unlike other rappers, having an album of unreleased material or working with a Primo, Pete Rock actually is profitable for him, because its targeting his audience.

Sony kind of got that with the first one. They saw the bootlegging of Iam and saw stuff floating online and decided to capitalize on it and the Stillmatic buzz.
Def Jam should follow suit

I hear people say “Well why release an album which is just a mixtape”….well arent they doing that with Fab’s TINC 2 as an EP?

Max your artists revenue but understanding these albums are worth promotion. And as it is they want Nas to release an album before the year finishes as per contract. This qualifies under that (like how some artists release a greatest hits album)

Niggaz be sheep though, bunch of bitches feel they gotta say something, anything as soon as it gets quiet..the silence scares em.
===========================================
Not sure what this means, but if you were taking a shot @ me, I’d appreciate it if you said my name.

And as it is they want Nas to release an album before the year finishes as per contract. This qualifies under that (like how some artists release a greatest hits album)
===================================
That’s like me signing an agreement with you to deliver me a new Lexus and you bring me one…from 94.

That’s not the agreement cause old music isn’t as relevant as it is dated & that might make it harder to sell it to the public.

Imma Esco Fan always have been, always will be. But yo baby mama problems, tax problems and now label problems! He once said he wanted to be the B.B. King of hip hop (longevitiy) but he is turning more into Chuck Berry (do your homework).

Micheal Jackson & Prince BOTH tried this same tactic NEVER to return to their prominence.

Now while I DO agree that labels totally take advantage of artist. But this is where all those years off a lazy work ethic, bad beat selection and basically just doing what he felt is going to come back and bite Nas. He has no leverage. C’mon he’s not Jay! Or even Kanye for that matter. He is a LEGEND yes. But only in critical acclaim. After Stillmatic commercially…..ehhhh.

I agree he shouldn’t aloow himself to get f*cked. But everybody knows that the next REAL Nas album has ALOT riding on it. His legacy lays in the balance. Illmatic is and will ALWAYS be an all time classic (which he does not own the masters to) but that was damn near 17 years ago! And in this what have you done for me lately business….nobody cares.

Imagine if Hov just rested on HIS laurels after RD? Smarten up, Nas. The game needs you…..

And as it is they want Nas to release an album before the year finishes as per contract. This qualifies under that (like how some artists release a greatest hits album)
===================================
That’s like me signing an agreement with you to deliver me a new Lexus and you bring me one…from 94.

That’s not the agreement cause old music isn’t as relevant as it is dated & that might make it harder to sell it to the public.

Def Jam wants a new Nas album like every one else.
———————————————————————————-

Execs dont give a shit how old the music when it was recorded, as long as it counts as something new in retail stores for the artists, they’ll put it out. Thats why you have people who release Greatest Hits albums that are filled with stuff the audiences have heard before. Thats why you have B-Sides, mixtapes being released as EPs and dead artists like 2pac still dropping recycled material on major labels.
By your logic you’re telling me none of these things have been released by major labels before because they wont accept them as new material. They dont care how old the music, as long as its something new to put in the stores they are with it.

What Nas is trying to say to the execs is simple: Its worth promoting a Lost Tapes 2 album beyond it just being a compilation.

Hip-Hop fans understand the value of it and anticipate like its an actual new album (We gonna hear stuff too like the new Pete Rock track Nas did last year). Of course he wants to be properly compensated for putting material even to the point of risking more money on it (Which he can make back on touring).

Really I think its worth Def Jam promoting both this album and then the actual studio album as a one-two punch for 2010-2011 (similar to how Sony handled Nas in 2002 with Stillmatic-Lost Tapes-God Son). It shouldnt be out of their element as they used to double promote albums all the time in the late 90s-early 2000s with this.

Imma Esco Fan always have been, always will be. But yo baby mama problems, tax problems and now label problems! He once said he wanted to be the B.B. King of hip hop (longevitiy) but he is turning more into Chuck Berry (do your homework).

Micheal Jackson & Prince BOTH tried this same tactic NEVER to return to their prominence.

Now while I DO agree that labels totally take advantage of artist. But this is where all those years off a lazy work ethic, bad beat selection and basically just doing what he felt is going to come back and bite Nas. He has no leverage. C’mon he’s not Jay! Or even Kanye for that matter. He is a LEGEND yes. But only in critical acclaim. After Stillmatic commercially…..ehhhh.

I agree he shouldn’t aloow himself to get f*cked. But everybody knows that the next REAL Nas album has ALOT riding on it. His legacy lays in the balance. Illmatic is and will ALWAYS be an all time classic (which he does not own the masters to) but that was damn near 17 years ago! And in this what have you done for me lately business….nobody cares.

Imagine if Hov just rested on HIS laurels after RD? Smarten up, Nas. The game needs you…..
__________________________________________________________

I think his problems are a little over-exaggerated . We see what we hear on the net and on the surface but I dont think they are nearly as bad as some make them out to be.

I mean the dude is about to headline Wembley Arena with Damian Marley on March 31st in London. Only Jay-Z, Eminem, 50 Cent and Kanye do 20,000 seat spots in Europe.

As far as his work ethic goes, consider this: The man has been touring like a mainiac since 2007 (Rock the Bells headline act 3 straight years, indvidual album tours, festivals, Europe, Australia, Toured with Kanye overseas, Did Asia for the first time in 07-08, touring with Damian from 2009-2011) and he still known for having one of the biggest released and unreleased catalouges next to Pac.
So I dont think he’s lazy at all.

Now if you wanna talk about whether or not he’s smart at picking the right songs for his album the last couple of go arounds. Yeah I can content thats an issue (How do you leave Talk of NY, Colours, Scientist, What it is, Association off your album?)

But this perception that he’s a failure because he’s not Kanye, Diddy, 50 or Jigga I think is a little unfair.

Ultimatley he hasnt crashed and burned like Rule, DMX (or how Weezy and TI are if they keep fucking around with the law) or gone completley AWOL like Cam did or released nothing for years like Juelz Santana (Who HAD to drop mixtape cuts) or Rakim or Redman or Meth.

If you rank him among other Hip-Hop artists, dudes had a pretty damn good career. I just think we over-exaggerate it cause “Nas Lost” is a meme and Jay-Z has rightfully dictated Hip-Hop culture, so we measure everyone against him. And even that dude is a Nas Stan…

But this perception that he’s a failure because he’s not Kanye, Diddy, 50 or Jigga I think is a little unfair.

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I don’t think he’s a failure by any means. The fact that he’s still here and is relevant proves that. Think: to most kids KRS & Rakim are like Melle Mel & Moe Dee to us! But niggas like Wock STILL revere Nas.

But I KNOW that he does not have the leverage or catalog value as ANY of the artist mentioned above to be playing hard ball with the likes of the people he mentioned in HIS letter. I mean it plays great with the streets, but he’s playing a corporate game.

And as a fan I would hate to see him get the treatment of artist that Def Jam already take for granted : Ghost, Meth, Red, The Roots etc. His legacy deserves better. And as fans so do we.

i thought jay-z brought nas to def jam?? he should reach out to jay now. that’s why having a business standpoint like jay is important in this game. nas should have been a business man. ask jay, it all pays out at the end.. i still cant believe nas, powerul as he is, going back n forth with execs to put his shit out. fuckin ridiculous (rza voice)

AYOOO FUCK DEF JAM !!!! FUCK THE ENTIRE RECORDING INDUSTRY!!! ALOT OF YOU YOUNG FUCS CAN’T RELATE TO NAS MUSIC BCUZ YALL ALL WASHED UP LIKE THE REST OF THE HERD AND THE MASSES!! DUM FUCS !! DO YA EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MESSAGES THESE ONE HIT WONDERS ARE DOING TO THE YOUTH?? IF YOU GUYS UNDERSTOOD HOW ENERGY AND MASS MANIPULATION WORKS IT WOULD BE MORE OBVIOUS! LISTENING TO ALL THIS NEGATIVE SHYT LOWERS YOUR CHAKRAS OR WHAT YOU WOULD CALL ENERGY CENTERS AND FUCS WITH YOUR AURIC FIELD WHICH IS AROUND YOUR PHYSICAL BODY..(NON PHYSICAL ENERGY)!!! THIS IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE MAN!! WAKE UP DUM FUCS!!! DO YOUR RESEARCH IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH!!!

L.A FRIED IS CONTROLLED BY HIGHER FORCES!! HES JUST A SELL OUT LIKE THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY INCLUDING MOST ARTISTS…SO YEAH GET OFF THE SMARTEN UP BANDWAGON!!

[…] these fucking hit songs so no, I don’t think L.A. Reid understands hip-hop in the same way that Nas understands it or Shyne or whoever or Kanye. He understands that muthafuckin money, he understands […]